Autophagy Inducer Discovery Services

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process that involves the degradation and recycling of damaged organelles, proteins, and other cellular components. Its dysregulation is associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. Compounds that can induce autophagy, known as autophagy inducers, have the potential to delay the onset of age-related pathologies by enhancing the cell's ability to clear aggregated proteins and damaged cells. This represents a promising strategy for extending healthspan and potentially lifespan.

Fig. 1 Autophagy inducers and functions of autophagy that prolong lifespan. (Madeo F, et al., 2015)

CD BioSciences employs a multifaceted approach to help clients develop autophagy inducers, ensuring a thorough and systematic investigation from target identification to in vivo validation.

How Do We Develop Autophagy Inducers as Anti-Aging Drugs?

Target-based identification of autophagy inducers

We help clients identify and validate key targets within the autophagy pathway using bioinformatics technologies. We focus on the phosphorylation of optineurin, enzymatic components of the ATG machinery (ULK1, VPS34, ATG4, ATG7), the autophagic Bcl-2/Beclin 1 interaction, autophagy-inducing peptides (Tat-beclin 1, Tat-vFLIP), etc. CD BioSciences then screens the libraries to identify potential autophagy inducers that can effectively modulate these targets.

Autophagy inducer optimization

We help clients perform structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize the chemical structure of lead candidates for improved potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. Our expertise in medicinal chemistry allows us to help clients develop optimized autophagy inducers tailored for anti-aging purposes.

Analysis of autophagy-inducing activity

CD BioSciences helps clients assess the autophagy-inducing activity of these candidates by measuring autophagic flux and the formation of autophagosomes. We use advanced techniques such as immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and mass spectrometry to elucidate the mechanisms by which autophagy inducers activate the autophagic pathway. We also help analyze the phosphoproteomics and proteomics of the signaling pathways that are activated by the autophagy inducers.

In vivo evaluation of autophagy inducer efficacy

CD BioSciences can assess the impact of the autophagy inducers on healthspan and lifespan in various animal models of aging. Additionally, we evaluate the efficacy of autophagy inducers in aging-related disease models to determine their potential in neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.

Applications of Autophagy Inducers in Aging and Aging-Related Diseases

CD BioSciences helps clients develop autophagy inducers that can be used as single or combination therapies to combat aging, thereby reducing the risk of aging-related diseases.

• Aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Age-related decline of autophagy disrupts neuronal balance, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. So we help clients develop autophagy inducers that can enhance autophagy to improve aging-related neurodegenerative pathologies.
• Aging-related metabolic diseases. The efficiency of autophagy decreases with age, and excessive nutrition can disrupt the autophagic process. We help clients develop autophagy inducers to improve metabolic health in aging by increasing autophagy, offering a new strategy for treating aging-related metabolic diseases.

CD BioSciences is committed to helping clients discover autophagy inducers as effective anti-aging solutions. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us or make an online inquiry.

References

1. Levine B, et al. Development of autophagy inducers in clinical medicine. J Clin Invest, 2015, 125 (1): 14-24.
2. Madeo F, et al. Essential role for autophagy in life span extension. J Clin Invest, 2015, 125 (1): 85-93.
3. Metaxakis A, et al. Autophagy in Age-Associated Neurodegeneration. Cells, 2018, 7 (5): 37.
4. Kitada M, Koya D. Autophagy in metabolic disease and aging. Nat Rev Endocrinol, 2021, 17 (11): 647-661.